The Debt Vision

4. The Address

Sebastian barely slept that night as the glowing words had vanished hours ago, but the address remained burned into his memory. 

Eastern District, Warehouse Block C-17.

And the warning. 

[Do not visit alone.]

[One claimant is already waiting there.]

The problem was actually simple because Sebastian had nobody to take with him. Three months ago, he could have called dozens of people. Today, there was not a single person he trusted. Not even one.

The realization stung more than he cared to admit as his eyes kept staring at the ceiling of the apartment whole night. When morning sunlight filtered through the dirty apartment window, his stomach growled.

He rubbed his eyes while turning his head toward the window to distract his mind when his stomach growled again making that noise now audible to him so he checked his wallet and all he had at that time was the seventy-two cents. The remaining change from his former fortune.

A bitter smile appeared on his face as he recalled how a few months ago, he had investigated assets worth millions while today he was calculating whether he could afford breakfast or not. The irony was almost impressive.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts as he frowned. Another knock followed and finally he decided to look at his impatient and aggressive guest who was continuously banging the door having no patience to wait.

Unfortunately, the guest was none other than, his own landlord, Mr.Copper, pacing back and forth while looking at his watch. “I gave you until today.”

Once again, Sebastian already knew where this conversation was going. “I knew.” He whispered.

“So where's my rent?” Mr. Cooper raised his brows at him.

“I need more time.” Sebastian lowered his gaze.

The landlord laughed so loud as if Sebastian had told a joke. A nearby door opened slowly and like that every neighbour’s door opened, trying to sneak peak and enjoy at Sebastian's misery once again.

“You always need more time.” The landlord intentionally raised his volume so the audience could enjoy the show.

Sebastian's eyes glanced up once realizing everyone's eye on him and then he lowered his gaze once again.

“Tell me something.” Mr. Cooper smirked. “What does it feel like?”

Finally Sebastian broke the silence. “What?”

Mr.Cooper leaned forward.“Going from rich to broke in a blink of an eye.” 

The hallway fell silent as the neighbours were watching keenly while enjoying Sebastian's condition. Sebastian felt humiliation crawling beneath his skin.

“You know,” Mr.Cooper continued, “when I first saw you on television, I thought you'd be living in some penthouse.”

A few chuckles came from nearby apartments as if Mr.Cooper noticed it too.

“But here you are.” Mr. Cooper glanced around dramatically. “Living with the rest of us.”

Soon the hallway burst into laughter, cruel enough to let Sebastian lower his gaze not because he was defeated but because he refused to give them the satisfaction.

Mr.Cooper shook his head. “You have until tonight.” His voice hardened. “After that, you're out.”

He clenched his fist after warning Sebastian and slammed the door straight on Sebastian's face who stood there for several seconds alone, powerless and feeling humiliated. 

The spectators disappeared slowly as the performance was over but no one came to console Sebastian even once. They didn't even try to pretend they felt sympathy for him.

The same familiar feelings returned which he experienced every day since the scandal. The urge to give up, to leave everything, to disappear like he never existed. 

“Maybe Nathan was right. Maybe survival wasn't dignity.” He murmured under his breath.

He turned around to walk inside while rubbing his forehead. “Maybe this city had already decided what Sebastian Kane was. A fraud, a failure.” He laughed bitterly.

His gaze suddenly fell on the debt file resting on the table as his mind recalled something. Forty-seven million dollars. The Debt Vision had clearly shown him that number. 

Not Four Hundred or Four thousand but Forty-seven million. The system had never changed its evaluation which meant only one thing: the opportunity was real.

For the first time that morning, determination replaced despair. 

“No. I'm not done yet.” He mumbled, reminding himself that his father hadn't raised him to quit. 

He recalled his past memory when he was fifteen years old only, where on a rainy evening years ago, his father had just finished recovering a debt everyone considered impossible. That time, the younger Sebastian had asked him why he never gave up to which his father smiled and then answered which he still remembered clearly even now.

“Because the truth doesn't disappear.” The old man said calmly. “It only hides.”

His father's lesson gave him the courage to continue his fight against injustice as he clenched his fist, his eyes still fixed at the debt file.

Slowly he tried to fix every puzzle together and recalled the address, the debt and the warning. The truth was hiding somewhere along it and he was intended to find it anyhow.

Two hours later, he arrived in the eastern district as the system mentioned the address to him. The neighbourhood looked deserted as old warehouses, broken fences and empty roads seemed like people passed through without even noticing the place.

Warehouse C-17 stood near the end of the block. Its rusted gate hung slightly open. Sebastian immediately felt something was wrong as the place seemed too quiet. And then his eyes fell on the expensive and polished Black Sedan parked nearby.

So the warning had been accurate as someone was already here so he approached carefully, sensing the danger waiting ahead of him.

The warehouse door creaked as he pushed it open and dust filled the air. Sunlight filtered through the broken windows. At first glance, the building appeared abandoned. Then the voice echoed from deeper inside.

“I was wondering when you'd arrive.”

Sebastian froze in his place hearing the voice. His eyes were busy searching for the owner when a woman in her mid- thirties stepped from the shadows. She wore a professional suit, confident posture and her eyes sharply analyzing him from head to toe.

He recognized his voice immediately. “Sarah Whitemore.” 

The same woman who offered him one hundred thousand dollars earlier which he rejected politely.

She smiled. “You look disappointed.”

Sebastian's guard rose instantly. “What do you want ?”

“The same thing I wanted yesterday.” She passed a faint smile.

“The Debt File.” He narrowed his gaze.

Sarah nodded. “Smart man.” 

“Then you are wasting your time here.” He replied coldly.

Her smile still didn't change. “ Are you sure?”

She slid a document across an old wooden table as Sebastian looked down and his eyes widened reading the words written on them. 

Apartment Eviction Notice.

It was his apartment, his name, his address written on the document which held his breath for a second as his expressions darkened. 

Sarah noticed his reaction. “You owe rent.”

“....”

“You have no income.”

“....”

“You have been rejected by seventeen employers.”

 This time Sebastian's expression hardened as he realized she had already investigated him thoroughly. 

Sarah folded her arms. “You are one bad week away from sleeping on the streets or maybe from tonight onwards…” She paused, taking a quick glance. “If you won't pay the rent on time.”

The words hit harder because they were true. She wasn't insulting him but actually describing his reality. 

“One Hundred Thousand Dollars changes everything.”

Sebastian stayed silent but kept staring at her. “Why?”

For the first time since she appeared here, her smile faded. “Because some things are worth more than money.”

Sebastian stepped closer. “What exactly is inside that debt file?”

Sarah remained silent and her silence answered everything that she knew. Maybe not everything but enough to keep her mouth sealed. 

Suddenly the words appeared again, brighter than before, directly above Sarah's head.

[Asset Connection Detected]

Sebastian's heartbeat accelerated reading the words and then a second line appeared.

Probability of Truthful Statement : 12%

His eyes widened in disbelief. Then another message appeared which spiked Sebastian's pulse like never before. 

Hidden Object Located.

An arrow appeared pointing behind Sarah, toward the warehouse floor, to a section of concrete. 

Sarah noticed his expressions changing. “What is it?”

Sebastian immediately hid his reaction because he couldn't let her know whatever was beneath that floor which the Debt Vision had found. “Nothing.”

Judging from Sarah's presence there, it seemed like it mattered a lot as she reached into her purse and pulled out a check and placed it on the table beside the documents.

“$ 250,000”

Sebastian's breath caught as the offer had more than doubled overnight. His rent, his future, his survival and everything could be solved with one signature.

Sarah watched him carefully, waiting patiently while testing his expressions .

Sebastian's eyes kept drifting between the check and then at the glowing arrow only he could see. One choice offered immediate relief to all his sufferings while the other had offered uncertainty and danger.

Finally, he looked up. “No.”

Sarah's eyes narrowed. “Think carefully.”

“I already did.” 

For the first time, irritation flashed across her face as he witnessed a tiny crack in her perfect composure. “You have no idea what you're getting involved in.”

Sebastian met her gaze. “Neither do you.” 

Silence filled the warehouse as the atmosphere shifted instantly while Sarah studied him for several seconds and then laughed softly at him, not in a mocking way.

“Interesting.” She picked up the check and turned toward the exit and then stopped for a moment.

One final sentence left her lips before leaving and it made Sebastian's blood run cold. “You should stop looking for the truth about the Hartwell case.”

Sebastian froze as she glanced over her shoulder. Her expression had become completely serious. “Because the people who framed you.” She paused. “...already know you've started looking back.”

Then she walked away leaving Sebastian alone inside the warehouse while the glowing arrow continued pointing toward the concrete floor.

And slowly….the silver words changed once more.

[Sub- Quest unlocked.]

[Recover Hidden Assets.]

[Reward: Ownership Key Fragment]

[Main Quest Updated.]

[Find the truth behind Hartwell Investigation]

[Current survival probability: 17%]

Sebastian stared at the final number that showed seventeen percent. Then a final line appeared. A line that made his entire body go cold.

[Warning.]

[Hostile Claimant Approaching]